Wizards, Leprechauns, and Magic; American Legion Baseball at 100
By: Roger Sigmon – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN)—It’s Spring 1980, and some magic seems to be brewing in Cherryville, NC, at Fraley Field. Several games have been won because of incredible plays, and Cherryville High School coach Henry Jones credits some of the miracle plays to a leprechaun named Nicholas.
He is often heard asking if anyone saw Nicholas push a homerun ball over the wall for a Cherryville player or knock a ball out of an opposing player’s glove. Opposing players are dropping sure-outs or losing pop flies in the sun. Coach Jones continues talking about the antics of the resident Leprechaun, who obviously enjoys baseball and favors the home team.
Nicholas the Statue: A Lucky Charm
Music lady Judie Eaker and her husband, public address announcer and broadcaster Danny, bought a statue to represent Nicholas. They surprised Coach Jones and the team by placing “Nicholas” in a chair and watched as the team and coaches reacted to seeing a cement representation of their good luck charm.
At first, Jones’ comments were greeted with laughs, but as the wins racked up, some began to believe in the legend. In fact, Nicholas soon had his own seat on the team bus, traveled to away games, and sat in the visiting dugout with the team. This team would eventually win the 1980 High School State Championship; yes, Nicholas was there with them.
American Legion Baseball Returns- and So Does Nicholas
Post 100 Athletic Director Bill “The Wizard” Abernethy, who, along with local businessman Aaron Moss, had been instrumental in leading efforts to return American Legion Baseball to Cherryville in 1980, had an idea. If the Leprechaun enjoyed baseball so much, maybe he would also be a fan of the Post 100 team. Bill purchased a second Nicholas to live in the press box. He asked Judie Eaker to paint this version of Nicholas, and she became his keeper. Everyone knew she alone was to touch him.
Press Box Rituals and the Wizard Ball
Baseball is known for teams and players having superstitions, and this one was no different. No one wanted to lose the magic of the Leprechaun. Bill had become known as “The Wizard” due to his uncanny predictions of scores and game outcomes. He brought his magic to the press box in the form of the wizard ball.
Abernethy would bring a baseball to the press box, and Judie and Danny, along with scoreboard operator Troy Thomas, Jr., would rub the ball for luck. The ball would then be placed into the pot of gold that Nicholas carried. “Press box Nicholas” and “Dugout Nicholas” were physical reminders of the real Nicholas, who hopped along the outfield wall and raced between the foul lines and base pads.
Fraley Field: The Lawn Chair Park
Fraley Field was becoming known as the lawn chair park. Rabid fans would set out their lawn chairs and cheer from along the first baseline. Cherryville fans were hungry for baseball and showed their love for the team. After a two-year hiatus from American Legion Baseball, Post 100 was back, and so were the fans. There were as many fans in lawn chairs as in the stands. They had a bird-eye view of players with three home run goals they could chase. Nixon Gym sits just behind the right field wall.
The Graveyard Smashes and Other Legends
At one point, the glass windows were not yet covered, making them a tempting target for left-handed batters. More than a couple of windows were broken before they were eventually covered. Highway 150 runs just beyond the left and center field fence. About a hundred feet on the other side of the Highway lies the city cemetery. In the 1980s and 1990s, Carolina Freight still had tractor-trailer trucks using this route.
A few legends swirled that a driver or two reported hearing home run balls hitting their trailer. Although impossible to verify now, it is not too farfetched. The Holy Grail of home runs became known as graveyard smashes. Yes, just as the name suggests, a few players had the power to launch a ball into Cherryville Memorial Cemetery. Or did Nicholas offer a little extra push?
The Reason Behind Nicholas’s Stay
The atmosphere and design of Fraley Field was and is unique. Several renovations have updated the facilities without removing the character of a historic ballpark. What made Nicholas stay?
It is possible Nicholas enjoyed this atmosphere and claimed the team as his own, too. This small North Carolina town was originally settled by residents with strong German and Irish ties, among a few others. Quite possibly, Nicholas had immigrated with the early settlers. Either way, he was having as much fun at the games as the players and fans.
An Ongoing Legend
Did a leprechaun truly help a High School and American Legion team? One opposing team did not want to take a chance, and legend has it that some of their players were caught on the field the night before the game trying to catch the Leprechaun using butterfly nets. Well, these teams were stacked with talented players and skilled coaches.
Success came early and has continued through the present. Throughout 88 seasons, Cherryville Post 100 has had 18 Area IV Championships, a record 22 regular season titles, seven state championships, five state runner-ups, 3 World Series Appearances, and 2 World Series runner-up finishes, most of this after 1980. You can decide for yourself if it was the luck of the Irish or just great play and coaching; the results are still the same.
Where Nicholas Is Today
Nicholas still sits in the dugout and press box forty-five years after his first manifestation. He has made a return to the field as well. The Junior team, coached by Stan Haynes, won the state championship last year and, at the time of this article are, undefeated with a record of 8-0 in the Area IV standings and 10-0 overall. The senior team, coached by Bobby Dale Reynolds, is on a five-game winning streak and stands at 5-2 in Area IV and 10-4 overall.
Looking Ahead
A future article will take a more in-depth look at the rebirth of Cherryville Post 100 American Legion Baseball. Baseball is America’s pastime and is clean, wholesome fun for the entire family. There are many games left to play this summer, including state tournaments for both the juniors and seniors in mid to late July, so come out to Fraley Field and catch a game or two and maybe catch a glimpse of an elusive leprechaun. As for now, we will enjoy the magic Nicholas the Leprechaun has brought to players, coaches, and fans for nearly half a century.
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